BT puts 'voluntary' block on Pirate Bay

Stops customers accessing the site via mobile broadband

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BT has blocked access to The Pirate Bay, citing that it is in "compliance with a new UK voluntary code".

According to numerous reports the company's Mobile Broadband service, which is based on the Vodafone network, has put a block on the site and if users want access to it, they must contact customer services.

One website, ISP Review, is reporting that the block is in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and that "all five of the UK's major mobile operators have agreed to participate."

This is not the first time that the IWF has blocked a mainstream website. Earlier this year, the foundation blocked access to Wikipedia after an apparent image of an underage nude child was posted on the website.

The IWF's voluntary code states that websites can be blocked if they "are considered to have 'over 18' status". This includes "adult/sexually explicit content, criminal skills and hacking".

Just last week, four members of the The Pirate Bay were sentenced to one year in jail and fined over £2 million over copyright infringement charges on the website.

UPDATE

The IWF has released a statement regarding the voluntary code, explaining that while it hosts the information on its website, it didn't actually create the code.

The statement is as follows:

"The UK code of practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobiles is available on our website for informational purposes, however, it is not overseen by the IWF nor do we have any role in its implementation. I'm afraid we do not know why our organisation has been referenced in relation to any action regarding Pirate Bay. Anyone with queries regarding this issue should contact their service provider."